Patti Wood Body Language Expert Blog

Research on How Cell Phone Use Effects Happiness, Anxiety and GPA

Though we know that people who use their cell phones are able to make quick “shallow decisions” such as I want this text or I don’t want to take this call, what is worrisome to me is cell phone use is preventing people from having healthy social interactions, and in fact is making social interactions more stressful. I keep up with the social psychology and neurobiology research on cell phone and computer use and I think this article is particularly interesting. Read it below and email me with your thoughts.
Link to article http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563213003993

Computers in Human Behavior

Volume 31, February 2014 Pages 343-350.

The relationship between cell phone use, academic performance, anxiety, and Satisfaction with Life in college students

By Andrew Lepp^,, Jacob E. Barkley , Aryn C. Karpinski

Highlights

  Measured cell phone use (CPUse) to include the device’s complete range of functions.

  CPUse was negatively related to students’ actual Grade Point Average (GPA).

  CPUse was positively related to anxiety (as measured by Beck’s Anxiety Inventory).

  GPA was positively and anxiety was negatively related to Satisfaction with Life (SWL).

  Path analysis showed CPUse is related to SWL as mediated by GPA and anxiety.

Abstract

While functional differences between today’s cell phones and traditional computers are becoming less clear, one difference remains plain – cell phones are almost always on-hand and allow users to connect with an array of services and networks at almost any time and any place. The Pew Center’s Internet and American Life Project suggests that college students are the most rapid adopters of cell phone technology and research is emerging which suggests high frequency cell phone use may be influencing their health and behavior. Thus, we investigated the relationships between total cell phone use (N = 496) and texting (N = 490) on Satisfaction with Life (SWL) in a large sample of college students. It was hypothesized that the relationship would be mediated by Academic Performance (GPA) and anxiety. Two separate path models indicated that the cell phone use and texting models had good overall fit. Cell phone use/texting was negatively related to GPA and positively related to anxiety; in turn, GPA was positively related to SWL while anxiety was negatively related to SWL. These findings add to the debate about student cell phone use, and how increased use may negatively impact academic performance, mental health, and subjective well-being or happiness.

Keywords:

Mobile phones; GPA; Anxiety; Satisfaction with Life; Technology; Post-secondary education

Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 (330) 672 0218; fax: +1 (330) 672 4106.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Research Study Shows Women Don’t Like to Brag about Themselves, It Makes Them Feel Anxious

This study indicates that a woman doesn't mind bragging about others and they feel better about bragging when the environment is different. Here is the study.

Bragging rights: Study shows that interventions help women's reluctance to discuss accomplishments

Date - January 13, 2014

Source - Montana State University

Summary:

Research found that women dislike promoting their own accomplishments, but it is possible for negative effects to be offset and to improve self-promotion.

A study published by Jessi L. Smith, professor of psychology at Montana State University, and Meghan Huntoon, who was Smith's student at MSU when research was conducted, has found that gender norms about modesty help explain why women don't feel comfortable bragging about their own accomplishments. However, intervention techniques can help women to communicate more effectively about their successes.

Related Articles

"Women's Bragging Rights: Overcoming Modesty Norms to Facilitate Women's Self-Promotion" was published in the Dec. 20 issue of Psychology of Women Quarterly.

The research, which sampled nearly 80 MSU undergraduate women, confirmed that women downplay their own accomplishments but have no trouble promoting a friend, Smith said. Past research had already shown than men are not affected by modesty norms like women are. However, this was among the first studies to test ways to intervene to help women write about themselves effectively.

"We also showed that we can intervene positively, and women can absolutely write about their accomplishments effectively," Smith said.

Smith said she and Huntoon, now a doctoral student in psychology at Northern Illinois University, launched the study when Smith observed an interesting response to a request for submissions to an MSU Women's Faculty Caucus newsletter.

"Nobody responded about themselves. Not one," Smith recalled. However, many women told Smith about really great things happening with their friends and colleagues.

"We wondered what was going on, so we began looking at the research," Smith said.

Smith said they found that American women are reluctant to talk about their own accomplishments because cultural norms promote modesty. And, society disapproves of women who are perceived to be bragging about themselves. However, Smith said, American men who brag about their accomplishments are perceived as confident and capable.

"We live in a society where cultural gender norms are powerful and imbedded in our history," she said. "This is no way, shape or form to be blamed on women. It's just part of our culture, and it is our job to find ways to change these cultural norms."

Smith and Huntoon wondered if this could be reversed, so they devised a study in which four groups of about 20 mostly freshmen female students at MSU each were asked to write essays for a scholarship based on merit that ranged in value up to $5,000. The subjects were told that the essays would be used as samples to help other students improve their essay skills.

One group was asked to write essays about their own accomplishments; another group was asked to write about the accomplishments of someone else. A group of impartial judges evaluated the essays, awarding an average of $1,500 less to those essays in which people wrote about their own accomplishments rather than about someone else's.

In order to study whether the female modesty effect could be overcome, Smith and Huntoon had another two groups write essays about themselves and introduced a distraction. A black box of about 3x3 feet square was placed in the room where the students wrote the essays. The researchers told one of the groups of subjects that the box was a "subliminal noise generator" that produced ultra-high frequency noise that couldn't be heard, but could cause them discomfort.

"There is no such thing as a subliminal noise generator," Smith said. "It was total fiction. But, we had given them an explanation for any anxiety they felt while writing their essay."

The other control group wasn't told what the box in the room was. The group that had the black box as justification to explain their discomfort wrote essays that were awarded up to $1,000 more than the group that had no explanation. And they enjoyed the experience of writing more, too.

"The key here is that when women had an alternative explanation for why they might be feeling uncomfortable -- the supposed noise generator- the awkwardness they felt from violating the modesty norm by writing about themselves was diverted, and they did just fine," Smith said.

The research has broad practical implications, Smith said.

"Basically, people in authority positions need to put in place practices that make it feel normal for women to promote their accomplishments," she said. "Cultural shifts take time, so while we wait, our results also suggest that people should be proactive and promote the accomplishments of their female friends and colleagues to their bosses. Women were very good at promoting the accomplishments of friends."

Smith said she has already used the results of the study while she talks to search groups and pay equity task forces and others in a position to review applications from women.

"This sheds light on an important issue and brings into question how we look at self-nomination for awards, cover letters for job applications and even pay raises," Smith said.

"I tell them that the woman that you are reading about on paper is likely really more outstanding than she appears."

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Montana State University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference:

1. J. L. Smith, M. Huntoon. Women's Bragging Rights: Overcoming Modesty Norms to Facilitate Women's Self-Promotion. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2013; DOI: 10.1177/0361684313515840

Why You Should Bragg. The Benifits and How Too's of Bragging.

Why You Should Bragg
By Patti Wood MA, CSP

Patti is a Body Language Expert and Professional Speaker
My friend Sue and I have known each other since grad school and have always supported each other’s success. She is a wonderful and talented author and beloved English professor and I am a body language expert and professional speaker. Sue arranged for me to speak to the student body of her university.

On the day of my speech, we went over my intro and I showed Sue how to turn on my 40 sec video that had snippets of newscasters and TV show hosts introducing me on their show. Then as students and professors came into the auditorium I introduced myself, “Hello my name is Patti and I am your speaker today." "How are you?" Then I gave my speech. After the speech, Pat and I went out and we had a long talk.

My friend said, “Patti, watching you how you set and introduced your self and talked about your work in your speech changed everything I thought about my career.” She said, “At first I thought, Goodness, Patti is going over the top with all this bragging about herself the intros and introducing herself as the speaker then I noticed how people responded to you even before you started speaking. I have watched 100’s of speakers in that same Venue but they were treating you with a feeling of honor and respect that I have never seen given before."

Sue continued, "l learned something about good self-promotion during your speech too." She said, "As you spoke, you gave brief specific examples of how you used your body language expertise to solve a client’s problems and I saw how it gave you increased level of credibility with the audience. " Each was just a few line story about a challenge and change that was made, but they were memorable. " Sue finished by saying, "But here is the funny thing Patti, I have had the opportunity my entire career to promote myself the way you did and I have never done it because I thought I would be bragging!

I told her she was a remarkable author and speaker and should own it and start self-promoting because men do so all the time! I shared that for years I wanted to be a successful speaker but I never bragged telling myself I was shy. I worked hard, but I was not in the big leagues. Then I looked around and realized that the male speakers would self promote. I know that you may be reading this and thinking, "Patti that's bragging!", but here is why I think it can work for you.

Think about the epistemology of bragging. (That is whether something you say about yourself can be verified or not. ) Can you self How do I know you’re telling the truth when you claim to have achieved some great outcome?

I recommend I said, I try to self- promote only with specific hard evidence. In epistemology, if I do that that it makes it believable. If there is a second of doubt in the listener's mind, if they think you are lying or inflating what you say is perceived negatively and it works against you. My friend Sue quickly started using specific detailed self-promotion techniques. Doing this, and her hard work, led her to earn a tenured position and the raise she had long wanted and deserved.

Research supports the notion that you should brag. Recent experiments conducted by Haifa University researcher Nurit Tal-Or examining the impact of bragging about those close to you (i.e. a family member or a colleague) vs. bragging about yourself suggest that people view people who brag about themselves as more competent than those who brag about others. "Bragging" (with specific and quantifiable examples of how you have achieved success) can actually be good for your career brand.

In fact, a 2011 Catalyst study found that the most powerful tactic for women in advancing their career was to make their achievements known. Calling attention to accomplishments led to more career satisfaction and was actually the only reliable factor associated with bigger raises. As much as we believe, or want to believe, that our achievements speak for themselves, that alone isn’t enough. We have to speak about them too.

— Janet Choi, CCO of iDoneThis

A great short article on the proper way to brag actually shows that bragging to strangers is more acceptable that bragging to friends. (Http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/insight/201009/the-proper-way-brag)

So help your career and brag a little.

What are Tie Signs and How Can You Read Nonverbal Cues to See How Your Relationship is Going.

What are Tie Signs and How Can You Read Nonverbal Cues to See How Your Relationship is Going. Reading Couple Body Language.

For many years I have been reading the nonverbal cues of celebrity couples to see what is going on in their relationships. One set of cues that you can use to read your relationship are Tie signs.
Tie signs are Nonverbal cues that communicate intimacy and signal the connection between two people. Tie signs can be objects such as wedding rings or tattoos like a I love Sarah heart, that are symbolic of another person or the relationship, actions such as sharing the same drinking glass, or touch behaviors such as hand-holding. My most visited article on this blog and on my website is what playing with a wedding ring means. Guess what, playing with a wedding ring is a low tie sign!

Walid A. Afifi and Michelle L. Johnson, “The Nature and Function of Tie-Signs,” in The Sourcebook of Nonverbal Measures: Going beyond Words, ed. Valerie Manusov (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2005): 190. Talk about touch behaviors Tie signs. They are what I look at the most frequently as they can communicate much about a relationship based on the area being touched, the length of time, and the intensity of the touch. I often look for mutual touch in couple photos. Kisses and hugs, for example, are considered tie signs, but there are so many kinds of kisses and hugs. a kiss on the cheek is different from a kiss on the mouth and a full embrace is different from a half embrace. (Look at my blog posts on Hugs and their definition and what different Kisses mean.)
If you consider yourself a “people watcher,” start noticing the various tie signs you see couples people use and what they might say about the relationship.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert

How Long Does It Take For You To Assess If Someone Is Trustworthy?

How Long Does It Take For You To Assess If Someone Is Trustworthy?

Trusting Faces:
How long does it take us to judge the trustworthiness of a person we just met? According to the research with brain scans apparently not long. In fact, within 33 milliseconds , we have already decided if we initially trust a person just by judging their face

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

If you give a mouse an iphone and "GOOD NIGHT IPAD"

If you Give a Mouse an IPhone – Shows Kids are Missing Out on Life by Spending Too Much Time on their Phones

Thursday night a member of our discussion group shared that he thought if we had had iPhones as teenagers we would not have been on them all the time because of the post Vietnam continuing love and peace movement and creative vibe of the time period we would have continued to play guitars, sing and have deep philosophical conversations. Most of us disagreed and said the cocaine like hit we get from being on our cell phones is addictive and that peer pressure would have pulled us into the habit and the hit would have kept us there. We continued with a discussion about how most kids and adults are so caught up on their iPhone they are not experiencing real life. This inspired me to find the video of the little children’s book spoof, “If you Give a Mouse an iPhone. The links are below you may want to follow that up with Good Night ipad parody of Good Night Moon. I am particularly fascinated with the mouse child being so distracted by the iPhone that he misses out on all the adventures in life. You may want to read the excerpt from my book SNAP Making the Most of First Impressions Body Language and Charisma Tech Impressions chapter where I talk about the neuroscience of checking your phone messages and goggling for information.

http://www.pattiwood.net/article.asp?PageID=8108 and

http://www.snapfirstimpressions.com/uploads/1/2/4/9/12493682/page_159_-_why_are_we_looking_at_our_phones_and_laptops_and_how_is_that_effecting_our_first_impressions.pdf

Here are the links to the cartoons

http://www.davidmilgrim.com/DMDC/Mouse.html

http://www.davidmilgrim.com/DMDC/Goodnight_iPad_home.html

What You Wear Shows How You Feel. Research on Clothing and Mood

What You Wear Shows How You Feel.

The other night I was watching a funky documentary called "Advanced Style" about older women in New York City that where over the top fun clothes. There was lots of women wearing hot pink and leopard skin prints! Though the women in the documentary were more than a little eccentric it was an inspiring look into a way to enthusiastically move into your elder years.

A recent study suggests a strong correlation between wearing certain clothes and emotional states. For example, it revealed that women who are depressed or sad are more likely to wear baggy tops, sweatshirts, or jeans. Women who had more positive emotions were more likely to wear a favorite dress or jewelry and generally look nicer.^h

You may know that what color you were effects your mood, but here are some specifics. Colors can profoundly affect emotional responses. While not everyone experiences the same emotion in response to a particular color, most people find reds and oranges stimulating and blues and purples restful. In contrast, gray, brown, black, or white tend to be emotionally dulling.

Get out your favorite bright colored clothes and your rhinestones. Guys you really do look great in that colored oxford shirt.

Your Facial Expressions Show You are Sleepy, Does Sleep Deprivation Effect Your Relationships? Do People Treat You Differently If You Are Sleepy

Research Study Reveals the Face of Sleep Deprivation - The Body Language of Sleep Loss

Below is research on the facial expression of sleep deprived tired people. The most interesting thing about it is that they look sadder. Yes, on some level you know that. But for me it is extremely interesting. Think about it. I am familiar with research that we avoid and in other ways treat people who look sad differently. How do you interact with someone who is sad or who just looks and feels sad because they are sleepy. Are you more empathetic to someone who look sad/tired? Are you gentler or do you avoid people at work who look sad? What about leadership, credibly, sales and persuasion? Do you take the advice of someone who looks tired? Do you buy from a tired sales guy? Do you follow the protocol for your health from your sleep deprived Doctor? Do kids ignore the commands of their tired parents?

I would love to do a study on this. Here is the study I read on the facial expression of the sleep deprived.

Results show that the faces of sleep-deprived individuals were perceived as having more hanging eyelids, redder eyes, more swollen eyes and darker circles under the eyes. Sleep deprivation also was associated with paler skin, more wrinkles or fine lines, and more droopy corners of the mouth. People also looked sadder when sleep-deprived than after normal sleep, and sadness was related to looking fatigued. Here is what I find interesting, The James-Lange Theory argues that the pattern our body language for emotions goes as follows: stimulus - bodily reaction - emotion. Which means how your hold your body effects how your feel. If sleepiness causes sad facial expressions you can't help but feel sad. By the way this goes against the conventional view that emotions cause bodily reactions

Link to the research or full research study below. http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top/environment/

Date - August 30, 2013

Source - American Academy of Sleep Medicine

Summary

A new study finds that sleep deprivation affects facial features such as the eyes, mouth and skin, and these features function as cues of sleep loss to other people.

Tired eyes.

Credit: © Sylvie Bouchard / Fotolia

[Click to enlarge image]

Credit: © Sylvie Bouchard / Fotolia

A new study finds that sleep deprivation affects facial features such as the eyes, mouth and skin, and these features function as cues of sleep loss to other people.

"Since faces contain a lot of information on which humans base their interactions with each other, how fatigued a person appears may affect how others behave toward them," said Tina Sundelin, MSc, lead author and doctoral student in the department of psychology at Stockholm University in Stockholm, Sweden. "This is relevant not only for private social interactions, but also official ones such as with health care professionals and in public safety."

The study, which appears in the September issue of the journal Sleep, was conducted at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Ten subjects were photographed on two separate occasions: after eight hours of normal sleep and after 31 hours of sleep deprivation. The photographs were taken in the laboratory at 2:30 p.m. on both occasions. Forty participants rated the 20 facial photographs with respect to 10 facial cues, fatigue and sadness.

According to the authors, face perception involves a specialized neuronal network and is one of the most developed visual perceptual skills in humans. Facial appearance can affect judgments of attributes such as trustworthiness, aggressiveness and competence.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Tina Sundelin, Mats Lekander, Göran Kecklund, Eus J. W. Van Someren, Andreas Olsson, John Axelsson. Cues of Fatigue: Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Facial Appearance. SLEEP, 2013; DOI: 10.5665/sleep.2964

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American Academy of Sleep Medicine. "Study reveals the face of sleep deprivation." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 30 August 2013. .

People With MS Can Have Trouble Reading Emotion From Body Language Posture Cues and It Can Make Them Seem Cold and Unfeeling

I have a friend Cathy whose sister Beth has MS. Cathy struggles with her relationship her sister. No matter what Cathy does to help Beth, her sister seems selfish and lacks empathy. It is all about Beth and her needs. A new research study on MS and the lack of the ability to read nonverbal cues of emotion may explain all or at least some of her problems with her sister. People with MS may not read body language posture cues of emotions well.

I can see if you can’t read you would have trouble mirroring and empathizing. Here is the link to the article. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141110083515.htm and below is the actual article.

Recognizing emotions, and what happens when this is interrupted

November 10, 2014

Sissa Medialab

Recognizing the emotions other people feel is crucial for establishing proper interpersonal relations. To do so, we look at (amongst other things) facial expressions and body posture. Unfortunately, in some neurological disorders this ability is heavily impaired. This happens, for example, in multiple sclerosis where scientific evidence shows that people affected by the disease often have trouble recognizing expressions that communicate emotions. A new study now demonstrates that the same difficulty may also be encountered with emotions conveyed by posture.

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A new study now demonstrates that the same difficulty may also be encountered with emotions conveyed by posture. In addition, the study shows that this difficulty recognizing other people's emotions is unrelated to difficulties identifying one own's emotions, a disorder known as alexithymia, which may be present in patients with multiple sclerosis.

"The finding on posture is new, and even though this symptom is less pronounced than the inability to read facial expressions, it is nonetheless important" explains Marilena Aiello, a SISSA researcher. "Studies on the identification of expressions in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis are important. In this type of disease the relationship between patients and carers is crucial to guarantee the patient the best quality of life. It's thus vital to identify the factors that may influence and improve this relationship."

In addition to Aiello, the other SISSA researchers who participated in the study, published in the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, are Cinzia Cecchetto (first author) and Raffaella Rumiati, a SISSA neuroscientist who coordinated the research project.

Story Source:

The above story is based on materials provided by Sissa Medialab. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.

Journal Reference:

1. Cinzia Cecchetto, Marilena Aiello, Delia D’Amico, Daniela Cutuli, Daniela Cargnelutti, Roberto Eleopra, Raffaella Ida Rumiati. Facial and Bodily Emotion Recognition in Multiple Sclerosis: The Role of Alexithymia and Other Characteristics of the Disease. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 2014; 1 DOI: 10.1017/S1355617714000939

Body Language Read of Blake and Ryan - Easy Does It!

Ryan Reynolds, 38, and Blake Lively, 27, sexed it up for the cameras at the Met Gala in May. As he palms his wife's rear, "Ryan has that proud look on his face, like, "Look at this babe I've got an my arm!". There is a boyishness there, says Patti. But Ryan's red-carpet approach was entirely different with a now-pregnant Blake at the Angel Ball in NYC. "Ryan's fingers are tenderly curled around her back. It is as though he doesn't want to hurt her as he draws her in!"

Patti gives the couple in May a 3 on the Life and Style True Love Rating Scale.

Patti gives the couple in October a 5 on the Life and Style True Love Rating Scale.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Body Language Read of Kim and Kanye - Ships in the Night!

Kim Kardashian, 34, stole the spotlight from Kanye West, 37, during a September appearance in London. "She looks as though she could be there all by herself," observes Patti. "It's odd that Kanye's almost hidden behind her." Things improved at a recent gala - sort of. "They're looking at each other and having fun, but there is still no tenderness and connection here. It look so fake!"

Patti gives this couple in September a 1 on the Life & Style True Love Rating Scale.

Patti gives this couple in November a 3 on the Life & Style True Love Rating Scale.

Patti Wood, MA, Certified Speaking Professional - The Body Language Expert. For more body language insights go to her website at www.PattiWood.net. Check out Patti's website for her new book "SNAP, Making the Most of First Impressions, Body Language and Charisma" at www.snapfirstimpressions.com. Also check out Patti's YouTube channel at http://youtube.com/user/bodylanguageexpert.

Patti Wood Body Language Expert Blog

Search This Blog

Research on How Cell Phone Use Effects Happiness, Anxiety and GPA

Research Study Shows Women Don’t Like to Brag about Themselves, It Makes Them Feel Anxious

Why You Should Bragg. The Benifits and How Too's of Bragging.

What are Tie Signs and How Can You Read Nonverbal Cues to See How Your Relationship is Going.

How Long Does It Take For You To Assess If Someone Is Trustworthy?

If you give a mouse an iphone and "GOOD NIGHT IPAD"

What You Wear Shows How You Feel. Research on Clothing and Mood

Your Facial Expressions Show You are Sleepy, Does Sleep Deprivation Effect Your Relationships? Do People Treat You Differently If You Are Sleepy

People With MS Can Have Trouble Reading Emotion From Body Language Posture Cues and It Can Make Them Seem Cold and Unfeeling

Body Language Read of Blake and Ryan - Easy Does It!

Body Language Read of Kim and Kanye - Ships in the Night!

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